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Well, we have had another extended period in the bush with no CDMA, thus e-mail coverage .. though sometimes we
were in towns at the wrong time for our Telstras Free Hour.
Travelled from Pine Creek to Katherine .. a busy afternoon shopping for trip to the west. We had just about finished
fuelling up and Vern and Nell appeared. They had parked opposite and recognised our vehicle. We took them out to our spot on
the old airfield where we both camped the night .. had a short yarn .. up to about mid day the next day!! We then parted
company with them heading north to Darwin.
We headed west towards the West Australian border. Some great scenery and interesting views along this leg .. we
stayed at three camp spots along this section. Met up with Allan and Lillian in a similar Alpine as ours .. then we seemed to
bump into them at a number of following camp spots.
Despite lots of comments heard regarding searching of vehicles etc., we had no hassles with the quarantine crossing
at the West Australian border. I asked the guy if he needed to look in the trailer and he said "yes, but mainly because I
have a caravan and I would like to see how you have fitted it out". No talk of quarantine business!
We took the road down to Argyle Dam, but it was something of a disapointment as one only gets very distant views of the
water. Near the end of the road and at the caravan park, we turned back at a sign that said "no caravans past this point".
That road, we learnt later, went down to the waters edge and from there, it was possible to follow it by an alternate route,
to Kununurra.
So we had to back track to the highway and arrived in Kununurra by that route. The mail had not arrived .. packages,
such as our redirected mail take 8 to 10 days, we were told. Airmail letters are quicker! Booked into Showgrounds after some
shopping in town.
The next day Allan and Lillian arrived in the car they tow behind their motorhome. They are staying at a different
place to us and they kindly took us for a drive around the local area .. the irrigated farm area in particular. We bought
some more fruit and vegies at these places at about half the Coles prices!
Also, visited the "hoochery" .. where rum, whisky etc. is distilled. Tasted and purchased some of their products.
A couple of motorhomers had a temporary job there working behind the counter.
Yesterday, Sunday, we took an all day flight in a Cessna 206 .. us, another couple and the pilot. We initially flew
west of here where we saw quite a bit of the famous Gibb River Road. Also El Questro resort then Emma George, the latter had
been washed away by a flood. We landed at Mitchell Plateau for morning tea .. cool drinks and snacks all carried in the
aircraft. From there, it was further north to the Mitchell Falls, but no water running over them as it was the dry season. We
did a couple of circuits around them. The falls are close to Admiralty Gulf which is about half the way along the coast
between Wyndham and Derby.
From there we flew north east a long way, passing over Kalumbura .. an aboriginal community. The deserted Pago
mission to the north was also visible. We continued on to Far Away Bay where we landed at their airstrip. It's a 20 minute
ride via an ancient 4 WD (to which they have added extra seats in the rear and, there is no roof) to the small exclusive
resort. There were 4 guests in residence, three of which were from the Canary Islands. The owner was there and proved an
extremely interesting fellow. He had a previous business organising and carrying supplies to the various mining companies
that were prospecting the Kimberley. Apparently, in that role, he discovered the spring on which the whole settlement relies.
He then went on to develop the resort and the necessary airstrip.
It is a really isolated, beautiful and exclusive spot .. only access via sea or air. The current managers, husband
and wife, turned out to be motorhomers doing that job for the season. Oh, by the way, that resort is $595 per person per
night (includes everything) and it costs another $595 there and back via air .. any one interested?
From there it was back travelling along the north coast .. apparently an area where there are numerous dugong and
turtles. We were flying from 4 to 500 feet and when some were observed, the pilot circled them for a better view. We flew
down Cambridge Gulf, north of Wyndham, to the mouth of the Ord River which we followed back to Kununurra. All in all, we
covered some 1000 km.
Today is Monday, and we are going to town later to check on our mail etc. Maybe, maybe, we leave tomorrow.
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